Nanaimo & Surrounding Areas: 250-616-9094

 

Serving Vancouver Island including:

Victoria, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Campbell River & Courtenay

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large (.25 to 1 in/0.63 to 2.5 cm) ants indigenous to many parts of the world. They prefer dead, damp wood in which to build nests. They do not eat it, however, unlike termites. Sometimes carpenter ants will hollow out sections of trees. The most likely species to be infesting a house in the United States is the Black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus. However, there are over a thousand other species in the genus Camponotus.

All ants in this genus, and also some related genera, possess an obligate bacterial endosymbiont called Blochmannia. This bacterium has a small genome, and retains genes to biosynthesize essential amino acids and other nutrients. This suggests the bacterium plays a role in ant nutrition. Many Camponotus species are also infected with Wolbachia, another endosymbiont that is widespread across insect groups.

Habitat

Carpenter ant species reside both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying or hollow wood. They cut "galleries" into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Certain parts of a house, such as around and under windows, roof eaves, decks and porches are more likely to be infested by Carpenter Ants because these areas are most vulnerable to moisture.

As pests

Carpenter ants can damage wood used in the construction of buildings. They can leave a sawdust-like material behind called frass, that provides clues to nesting location. Carpenter ant galleries are smooth and very different from termite-damaged areas, which have mud packed into the hollowed-out areas.

Phone or Email Consultations

Island Pest Control is here to help. Call us or email us,we may be able to advise you in handling a pest control problem yourself. If we can't help with your specific situation, we probably know someone who can.

All creatures have their place in the world.

When they make your place their space, it's time to call Island Pest Control.

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Nanaimo: (250) 616-9094

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